Method for gel manufacture



Dec. 7, 1948. T. HARTLovE 2,455,764

" pm'mon Fon GEL MANUFACTURE med Jan. 22. 194s fIllllllrllll Patented Dec. 7, i948 UNITED METHOD FOR GEL MANUFACTURE Leslie` T. Hartlove, Baltimore, Md., signor to 'llvlhe Davison Chemical Corporation, Baltimore,

Application :mum ze, 1943, semi No. maisv z claim; l(ci. 2x4- 1.1i

This invention relates to gel and more particularly has reference to the handling of the gel during the manufacturing thereof.

In the manufacture of gel such as a silica gel, a vhydrosol which may be formed by the interaction between a solution of a soluble silicate such as sodium silicate and an acid such as sulfuric acid is run into tubs or tanks and yallowed to gelatinize or set. One method of handling-the gel in this stage of manufacture comprises running a sol formed as above described into a tub which is mounted for inversion so that after the hydrosol has set into a hydrogel, the latter may be removed from the tub by inversion of said tub.

It has been found that in inverting the tub to remove the hydrogel therefrom, there is a tendency for portions at least of the hydrogel to remain in the tub and necessitate an operator scraping the same from the walls of the tub.

in object of this invention is to facilitate the removal of a hydrogel from a tub or receptacle in which it has set. v i

Another object of this invention is to facilitate the removal of a hydrogel from an invertible receptacle by reducing the adhesion between the hydrogel and the walls of the receptacle.

Still another object of this invention is to facilitate the removal of a. hydrogel from a container in which it has set by introducing a fluid into the container at the bottom thereof to reduce the adhesion beween the hydrogel and the walls of the container.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention comprises the steps and procedure and the parts in combination hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through an invertible tub in which a. hydrogel is set and from which it is removed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tub illustrated in Figure 1.`l

In carrying out the present invention, a hydrosol formed by mixing solutions of sodium silicate and sulfuric acid, for instance, is run into the tub I for setting. Tub i may be formed of cypress or other suitable wood or other material which will withstand the chemical action of the hydrosol and the wear and tear of handling the same. The

` tained in an upright position by means of the U-shaped latch 'I which is pivotally carried by the upper rim portion of the tub for' swinging movement into and out of engagement with the 'bail l.

After the hydrosol has gelled to form a hydrogel and is ready to -be discharged from the tub I a tube 8 which communicates with a flexible hose t is inserted into the open upper end of the tub down through the hydrogel into engagement with the bottom of the tub. Air under pressure is supplied from a suitable source through the flexible hose `il and is ejected from the lower end of the tube B. By thrusting the tube 8 down through the gel to the bottom of the tub l and causing airV to flow therefrom, the air will tend to flow between the contacting surfaces of the weils of the tuband the hydrogel. This action will reduce the adhesion between the hydrogel and the walls of the tub and will split and crack the gel free from the tub, thereby facilitating removal of the hydrogel fromthe tub. After the injection of air into thetub as above described, the tub may be inverted by releasing the latch 'I and the contents thereof discharged therefrom. The'reduction in adhesion between the hydrogel and the inner surface of the walls of the tub l enables the body of gel within the tub to be comslip out of the inverted tub substantially in the form of a body.

In following the above outlined procedure for removal of the hydrogel from the tub, scraping or washing of the gel from the surfaces of the inverted tub is eliminated.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a novel method and apparatus for effecting a simplied and complete removal of a hydrogel from a setting receptacle.

I claim: I

1. A method of removing hydrogel from an invertible setting container comprising inserting the discharge end of an air electing conduit into said gel and in engagement with the bottom of the container, 'electing air from said conduit to loosen the adhesion o! the gei to the wall oi the container, and then inverting the container.

2. A' method o! reducing the adhesion oi a hydrogel with the wall oi' a setting container comprising inserting the discharge end of an air 5 Vniermann/5ms CITED The following reiereiices are o! record in the nie of this patent:

4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,019,965 Kelly Mar. 12, 1912 2,039,626 Raichc May 5, 1936 2,217,213 Bratring oct. s, 1940 OTHER REFERENCES Newill, Good Food and How to Cook It, page 10 265. Pub. in 1939 by D. Appleton-Century Co.,

New York. 

